Actually, the Progressive Era more or less coincided in time with the Great Reconciliation between South and North, by which the War became sort of a Great Misunderstanding, not a world-historical conflict between two definitions of what America meant.
Progressivism of the time was entirely compatible with racism, as can be seen by Wilson, the great Progressive who was probably the most racist post-War President of them all. His racial attitudes lined up with the Confederacy, but he explicitly and openly rejected the limitations on federal power built into the Constitution.
Most people project modern political groupings and categories back into the past, and unthinkingly line modern groups up as being “the same.”
I used to do the same myself, till I was cured by a research paper on the English Civil War. You just cannot line the sides in that war up with anything resembling modern political groups. The basic concepts and alliances are just too different.
The concept of states rights has been tainted, but you and I disagree on why. Mores’ the pity because states rights are the answer to an out of control Fedzilla.
Absolutely correct Sherman.
The 'Progressives' -- in fact where pretty deep racists until they were co-opted by the hard left during the 1920s and especially during the Depression.
In the 1940s and early 50s the hard left infiltrated the Civil Rights movement hoping that the 11% or so of black Americans would become the foot soldiers of their hoped for the socialist revolution. (Yes, they really believed they could start a revolution)
They didn't give a rat's ass about civil rights for blacks, or anyone else. It was just an issue they could use to their advantage.
Read David Horiwitzes book "Radical Son" to understand what was going on in those days.